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In 1998, Sydney-Hobart was a deadly race won by the sea

By Christopher Clarey

• Dec. 21, 2007

The 10th anniversary of the deadly 1998 Sydney-to-Hobart race is on the horizon, and yachties, to borrow the Australian term, and a few non-yachties, may soon be reflecting, or perhaps pulling out books like "The Proving Ground" and "The Fatal Storm" and reliving the tragedy and some of the minor miracles.

Looking back, what is remarkable is that not more than six sailors died in that terrifying pocket of weather that Larry Ellison, the owner of the winning yacht, Sayonara, compared to a hurricane.

More than 50 sailors had to be plucked from the sea or from their damaged yachts in often extreme conditions. Whether any of those yachts, five of which sank, should have been in that situation at all has long been debated. A state coroner's report issued in 2000 criticized the race management team and the bureau of meteorology for their passivity.

But what is clear now, nearly a decade later, is that the Sydney-Hobart race has survived and even continued to thrive, as the 82 entries in the race this year confirm. Far from dampening interest, the 1998 tragedy lifted the international profile of the race, which has also been true for other thrill-seeking ocean races. The Vendée Globe, the nonstop, single-handed, around-the-world race that is the most extreme of all, became a cultural sensation in France in part because it sometimes proved deadly. What happened in 1998 has certainly not eroded the Hobart's hold on the Australian public.

"I think Australians have a sense that this challenge of men and women against the sea in yachts is something intertwined with the history of Australia," said Matt Allen, commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which organizes the race. "As in other countries, all our early ancestors arrived here on sailing ships, and they had a different set of challenges, but it was essentially the same: boat and crew against the sea."

Since the race began in 1945, the boats have often lost as they have attempted to sail the 628 nautical miles (a nautical mile equals about 1,800 meters) from Sydney Harbor to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. The list of entrants and finishers over the years reveals that about one in five yachts has had to retire. Forget, for a moment, 1998, when 115 boats started and only 43 finished. Consider, for a moment, 1993, when 104 yachts started and only 38 finished.

"That 1993 race was generally regarded as the toughest on record," said Iain Smith, a crew member on Wild Oats XI. "The only difference was that there was fortunately no loss of life that year. There were massive retirements and damage to yachts."

Trouble can surface in various spots along the course, which follows the coast of eastern Australia before heading toward Tasmania.

"When sailing through the east coast of New South Wales you get that quite strong current, and that's what makes the race very challenging," Allen said. "You often get the current heading south and the wind coming from the south, and so often the waves stand up. And so it's often like launching the boat off the edge of a cliff, because the waves are so steep. It's pretty challenging to keep the boat together in those conditions."

But the real danger zone remains Bass Strait, the unpredictable, relatively shallow stretch of water that separates southeastern Australia and Tasmania. Notorious for shipwrecks long before Australians started putting yachts and their crews at risk for sport, the strait was named for an 18th-century British ship doctor.

"It can be a walk in the park, but more often than not it is a heinous place to be," Smith said. "It's certainly the worst stretch of water I have ever crossed."

Allen, who will be racing in his 19th Sydney-Hobart this year, said that he had "been caught in gales and tricky conditions anywhere along the racetrack," but that the worst spot is "the early part of Bass Strait, where it's very exposed and the wind tends to funnel quite a lot." He added: "When you enter, you get a 5- to 10-knot increase in wind speed, and it happens quite quickly and seems to always happen."

In 1998, the increase was huge, with the storm generating gusts of 90 miles per hour, or 145 kph, and waves the height of a surfer's dreams and everyone else's nightmares.

Richard Winning, the owner of the yacht Winston Churchill, estimated the size of the wave that marked the beginning of the end for his classic wooden yacht at 90 feet, or nearly 30 meters. Three of his crew members - John Dean, Jim Lawler and Mike Bannister - later died after a wave knocked them from their life raft.

Three other sailors - Philip Skeggs, the former British Olympian Glyn Charles and Bruce Guy, who suffered a heart attack during the storm - would also perish. The victory ceremony in Hobart was canceled. Ellison, whose Sayonara had avoided the worst of the storm by being big, fast and expertly handled, delivered an appropriately subdued speech on the dock.

"This is not what racing is supposed to be," he said. "Difficult, yes. Dangerous, no. Life-threatening, definitely not. I'd never have signed up for this race if I knew how difficult it would be."

Until 1998, only four sailors had died in the Hobart, despite all its inherent dangers. But in the course of one day, the death toll had more than doubled. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia soon announced a series of safety measures, and there have since been no deaths and only one sunken yacht.

But Allen is not prepared to exclude the possibility of something similarly tragic happening again. "Essentially," he said, "anything can happen at sea."

Westcoaster History & Results

The 435 nautical mile blue-water classic Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race was the brainchild of Stan Gibson from Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club in Melbourne and Dr Joe Cannon at Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart. It was intended as a challenging alternative for Victorian and South Australian sailors who wanted to be in Hobart for the celebrations but did not want the logistical hassle of getting the yacht up to Sydney to compete in the Sydney to Hobart.

The fearsome reputation of the west coast of Tasmania ensured that the proposed new race was viewed with scepticism by the local yachting community. However, Stan Gibson’s analysis of the summer weather patterns along the west coast overcame the critics and Donald Trescowthick (subsequently Sir Donald KBE) sponsored the event and donated the Heemskerk Perpetual trophy.

The inaugural 1972 race attracted 15 entries and support for the race increased steadily over the next 20 years with typical fleet sizes of 20 – 30 boats throughout the 1980’s. The fleet record of 65 yachts was reached in 1996.

By today’s standards, the race was a “big budget affair” in its early years with financial support from both the Victorian and Tasmanian Governments and commercial sponsors - and this was reflected on trophy night. In additional to the Perpetual trophies, still awarded today, in the 1970’s prizes included gold and silver ingots and sovereigns. In 1976 these were upgraded to include “gold plated solid silver ingots hand painted by Pro Hart” for each major place getter. The three main ingots were approximately the same length as a house brick and the painting was described by Pro Hart as the most detailed work he had ever done. The NOR at the time valued these trophies at $25,000 - including $1,500 for each of the 4 Pro Hart paintings. They got that wrong!

Now in its 52nd year, the race has a proven and enviable safety record. More than 950 yachts and some 7500 crew have competed in the event without major incident. There is no doubt that the weather can be difficult and there are numerous accounts in the race history strong 50 – 60 knot (100 kph) winds for periods of 3 or 4 hours associated with passing fronts. In these conditions its not easy and the Westcoaster safety record is a tribute to the careful preparation of the crews and to the careful race management and training programs put in place by the ORCV.

In most years, race retirements are limited to only 1 or 2 boats but the record shows 4 years when one third or more of the fleet have not been able to finish the race – and this highlights a different aspect to the challenge. In both 1981 when 12 of the 30 starters retired and 2004 when only 4 boats finished, the problem was lack of wind. In the third year, 1998, eight of the 25 entrants elected not to start, doubtless influenced by the difficulties experienced by the Sydney Hobart Fleet that year but 15 of the 17 starters successfully finished the race.  2019 saw all the fleet struggling to find wind and arriving into Hobart a day later than expected.   In 2021, 77% of the fleet dared to follow the wind, taking the longer route West of King Island with Matt Fahey on Faster Forward brave enough to dream and believe "West was Best" and crowned the overall winner.  

Then came 1999, undoubtedly the most challenging race, with Nigel Jones and his crew on “Cadabarra 7” being the only boat to finish out of 20 yachts. The race started in light 10 – 15kn conditions but with an approaching low-pressure system promising difficult conditions. Cadibarra took the unusual decision to sail to the west of King Island, thus avoiding rough conditions which could be expected in the gap between King Island and NW Tasmania. By morning Cadabarra was west of King Island, the wind had shifted south and strengthened to 25 Kn. The wind continued to strengthen throughout the day – 30kn by nightfall with 3m seas, gusting to 45 kn by the morning of day 3. With wind and 5m seas “bang on the nose” progress was slow and remained uncomfortable until the next morning. After 40 hours sailing, the worst of the low-pressure system had passed, the wind abated and shifted west. South West Cape (around 100 nm from the finish) was rounded by lunch time, first hot meal for a while, spinnaker up and a dash across the bottom of Tasmania at 10 – 18 knots. The finish - 2am on Day 4 after 3 days ands 14 hours. Not dangerous but challenging. That’s the Westcoaster.

The honour of being the first two crewed yachtsman to complete the race was Simon Kellett’s “ bobby Dazzler who finished 20th overall in 1990 out of a fleet of 36. Entries since then have been spasmodic but autohelm and navigation technology is improving and two-handed racing in the Westcoaster is actively encouraged. There were 10 “double handed” entries in the 2017 Westcoaster which is a qualifying event for the Melbourne – Osaka Race and they performed well. Magique (Maurice Contessi & Martin Vaughan) finished second overall in AMS taking out the Sovereign Series against the fully crewed fleet and Kraken (Todd Giraudo & David White) second in IRC.

History of the Westcoaster Snapshot

How it all started.

The first ocean race staged in Australia was sailed between Geelong, Victoria and Stanley, Tasmania in 1907 with yachts competing for the Rudder Cup trophy. In 1971 it was time to run a new ocean race. ORCV Commodore, Stan Gibson, had long held the desire to organize a Melbourne to Hobart yacht race. Gibson believed that such a race would be well supported by not only yachtsmen from Victoria but from all States.

Gibson discussed the matter with his ORCV Committee and received a lukewarm response. However, Gibson continued with his desire, but could not find financial support for his idea. The ORCV at the time had no funds and was not too interested in Gibson's idea.

Gibson enlisted the aid of fellow yachtsmen, Peter Riddle and together they approached Donald Trescowthick who saw the immediate benefits and prestige to the Victorian yachting community. Supporting the Melbourne to Hobart Race were ORCV Honorary Secretary, Ron Elliott and his wife Peg.

Trescowthick immediately set up the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Committee and Gibson arranged for the ORCV, along with the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, to take care of the technical sailing matters in Victoria, with the Derwent Sailing Squadron looking after the Hobart end.

The promotion and management of Melbourne to Hobart were entirely in the hands of Trescowthick and his Committee. The public relations for the race were handled by Richard Sexton who had previously managed the public relations for General Motors Holden.

When the public announcement of this new Blue Water Classic was launched, there was considerable unfavourable press and comments such as "Don't go west young man you could be putting your life on the line. In the Interests of safety. The Melbourne to Hobart Race should be abandoned" were made. It was all of this negative publicity that caused Trescowthick to coin the phrase "The boys go down the east, and the men go down the west"

Initially, the Race Committee decided the race should commence at Queenscliff and arranged for the Victorian State Governor, Sir Henry Winneke to start the Race.

The Race Committee had many meetings to discuss what should happen to ensure the ongoing success of the race. At Trescowthick's suggestion, the Sovereign Series of Races was born comprising Cock of the Bay, Melbourne to Hobart and King of the Derwent races.

Trescowthick's companies, Signet Insurance Group, Charles Davis Limited, Co-operative Motors Limited and Swann Insurance Limited were sponsors. These companies invested more than $2m in sponsorship of the Sovereign Series during the ensuing years.

The Sovereign Series was managed by the Race Committee in an effort to generate interest in Melbourne to Hobart. It was promoted as an equal to the Southern Cross Series which was raced bi-annually in Sydney.

Trescowthick's Race Committee negotiated with Victorian and Tasmanian Governments and gained financial support from each during the formative years. After two starts at Queenscliff, the newly formed Sovereign Series Committee (the Melbourne to Hobart Committee having changed its name to reflect the three races) decided to move the start from Queenscliff to Portsea, which had an immediate positive effect on increasing spectators on land, on water and in the air.

Over the coming month's newsletters, we will continue the history with a summary of each race...

THE FIRST RACE 1972

The race entry fee was $20 and attracted 15 intrepid entries. In the first year, the race started off Queenscliff on Boxing Day at 1.30 pm with a course via King Island and South West Cape to a finish line in Hobart’s Derwent River, off the Wrest Point Casino.

With fresh breezes blowing in Bass Strait, the 15 yachts made their way out through Port Phillip Heads with every boat passing King Island to the West. Peter Riddle’s Warwick Hood designed 41-footer ‘’Mary Blair went on to take line honours and hold the Abel Tasman Trophy in the very quick time of 2 days, 16 hours, 19 min and 7 seconds. John Marion’s Phillip Rhodes designed 30-footer, ‘Ailsa’ won the Heemskerk Trophy for the fastest boat on IOR Mark III corrected time

One very lucky boat to complete was Leon O'Donoghue's Swanson 27 ‘Lady Hamilton’ which needed a 6-inch skillet of plywood glued to its skeg to enable it to meet the minimum 24-foot waterline length race entry requirement. In its crew, with 26 offshore races to his credit, was Royal Brighton Yachtsman, Alan Collins, who in later years went on to win the race multiple times.

Worthy of mention was Geoff Wood’s famous 55-foot 3 masted schooner ‘Ile Ola’, with a piano onboard. During her 34 years of racing and cruising, Ile Ola logged no fewer than an astounding 510,000 sea miles and competed in 15 Melbourne to Hobart races.

Ile Ola out through the heads with piano onboard

1973 - 1979

1973 race saw a fleet of eight yachts in the race. Bill Croft’s Tawarri II won line honours, nearly two days slower than Mary Blair’s record time, with Royal Geelong’s Ron Spence’s Appaloosa winning on handicap. Melbourne to Hobart race founder and ORCV member Stan Gibson’s Four Winds II came fourth. In 1974 weather conditions better suited the race fleet and John Williams’s Minna defeated Mary Blair across the line to take line honours, some four hours slower than the race record. Reg Hare’s 37-foot Alan Payne designed Tasman Seabird, Pagan won on handicap. One of many ocean races won by Alan Payne designed yachts of the years. Worthy of note is that 40 years later, Pagan won the 2014 Brisbane to Gladstone race.

Colour television had just been launched in Australia, and in 1975 Dr Tony Fisher’s maxi the 72-foot Joe Adams designed ferro cement, Helsal (named after Fisher's wife Helen and daughter Sally) made its first appearance in a bid to smash the race record. Already holding the 1973 Sydney to Hobart race record, Fisher wanted both. With mostly light winds during the race, meant the maxi was almost half a day slower than the race record. Bob Mercer’s Carter 38 Rovama won on handicap. Helsal returned in 1976 for another shot at claiming the race record. Despite some halyard issues, Helsal went on to take line honours in a record time of 2 days, 7 hours, 18 mins and 51 seconds, nearly nine hours faster than previous record. Jock Sturrock’s former Alan Payne 42-foot Monsoon skippered by John Attwood won on handicap.

The Searle family began a new chapter in the race’s history book in 1977. Wiley Jim Searle and his son Neil scored the first of the family’s record making four back-to-back wins (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980) on their superbly prepared white and green Farr 1104 Hot Prospect. Line honours was won by Guy Ellis’s 54-foot steel Buchannan, Anaconda, some 13 hours slower than race record time.

Neil Batt’s Sandra scored Tasmania’s first line honours win in 1978 in a time of 2 days, 12 hours, and 21 minutes and in 1979 Alan Collin’s new S&S 34 Eastern Morning entered the race for the time. Over the next ten years Collin’s won the race twice.

Jim Searle returned in 1980 with a new boat Relentless and it didn’t let him down in his quest for a record breaking fourth successive Melbourne to Hobart handicap win. Line honours went to South Australia’s Jim Howell on Nimrod II in a time of 2 days 11 hours 46 mins.

1981 was the 10th anniversary of Melbourne to Hobart. After a decade with no major disasters, a tribute to the race's safety standards and competency of the crews, the Westcoaster emerged from a cloud of controversy as to whether it should ever have been sailed, proving that it could be, and safely. For the first time, Arbitrary Division boats were allowed to race and 11 entries increased entries to a record 33 boats.

Joe Becher’s former Admirals Cupper Apollo II made its race debut, winning IOR handicap division by more than 90 mins with Edie Wall-Smith's Farr42 Rimfire second. Ken King’s new Steinan 40 Noeleen III made its race debut finishing 3rd in IOR Division. Brian Kosts’s 36’ steel cruiser Ebee III won Arbitrary Division and Max Gill’s Holland 48 Isle of Luing took line honours in 3 days 1 hour 13 mins.

1982 IOR Division honours went to Tasmania this year when Hobart based Bill Escott’s S&S 34 Solandra won both line honours and the Arbitrary Division. Meanwhile the Sovereign Series Chairman/Sponsor Sir Donald Trescowthick’s Peterson 40 Kiknos with Neal Searle at the helm, notched a fourth placing in IOR Division.

1983 saw South Australia producing its first handicap winner when James Cowell’s S&S 34 Morning Hustler won the IOR Divion by 65 minutes on corrected time from Alan Collins S&S 34 Eastern Morning David Bowman’s Farr 11.6 Freelance took line honours in 3 days and 7 mins, just 2 mins ahead of Robin Hewett’s Lexcen 49 Yoko. In Arbitrary Division John Edwards UFO 34 Ninda took the trophy against a strong fleet of 16 entries.

In the 1984 race Gary Graham’s 60-foot Royal Geelong based steel sloop Quasimodo won line honours in 3 days 6 hours 27 mins 59 sec., whilst Alan Collins after a 7th and 2nd in previous years broke through for his first IOR Division win on S&S 34 Eastern Morning defeating Ken Page’s S&S 39 Mark Twain. One of the legends of the race, Mac Stokoe from Sandringham Yacht Club sailed his Duncanson 35 Milluna to victory in the Arbitrary Division with Peter McLaren's Adams 12 Lady Bay runner up

The 40 boats in 1985 started with gale force winds as they battled their way across Bass Strait and past King Island. John Lake’s magnificent new Steinman 52-foot Flying Colours from Sandringham Yacht Club made its race debut winning line honours in 2 days 14 hours and 54 mins. Hobart’s Reg Escott sailed home to score his second IOR Division win in three years with his S&S 34 Solandra defeating Graham Aldersea’s Steinman 30 Ruzulu.

Tasmanians won their first ever handicap double in the race, when Drew Murray’s all steel Bollard 36 Trident III (former Ebee III winner Arbitrary Div in 1981) with a hot shot crew of state champion dingy sailors won performance handicap by three and a half hours, defeating Graeme Alexander’s Mottle 33, Thermopylae.

1986 was Flying Colours big year, which saw the quick 52-footer pick up a gale along Tasmania's south coast, surfing home in the new record time of 2 days 3 hours 19 mins 53 sec. Flying Colours slashed almost 4 hours off Helsal’s 1976 record, which had stood for 10 years. Flying Colours also won performance handicap by 3 hours from Dr G Humphrey’s Valkyrie. In IOR Division Peter Gourlay’s Dubois 40 Seaulater won.

In 1987 the IOR Division attracted just three entries, with Eddie Wall-Smith Frers 43 Challenge 3 winning on handicap. The Tasmanians continued their winning streak with Arthur Budd’s bright red hulled Van de Stadt 43 Trumpcard. Line honours went to Flying Colours for the third year in a row.

1988, in the first year of the Sun Smart sponsorship, John Lakes Flying Colours carried the sponsors logo and was line honours winner for a record fourth time in succession.

The South Australians came in force in 1989, when Keith Flint entered the Adams 66 Helsal 1 with his eyes on the line honours record. However, the winds were not quite right and Helsal had to be content with a line honours win in the time of 2 days 12 hours 12 min 3 sec, some 9 hours outside Flying Colours race record time.

In the last year and IOR Division was included in the race, Rob Kenyon steered Ray Abikhairs Farr 37 Hummingbird to victory. Alan Collins won the Channel Handicap in his newly acquired Cavalier 37 By Order of the Secretary and Gary Brice skippered the Navy’s SIII Scarborough of Cerberus to a Performance Handicap victory.

THE 1990'S and FIRST 25 YEARS.

The 1990 race will be remembered as the year Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing was captured on film wave dancing on the Southern Ocean by Tasmania’s world-renowned yachting photographer, Richard Bennett.

Wild Thing was pictured three quarters out of the water surfing down 10-meter waves at speeds in excess of 30 knots, as the Inglis 47 sped on its way to setting a new race record of 2 days 20 minutes and 19 seconds. Bennett’s image was voted Yachting International picture of the year, and it was published in over 60 magazines and books worldwide!

Nigel Jones’ Farr 40 Paladin won Channel Handicap division with style and Richmond Edmunds gave Tasmania its 5th Heemskerk Trophy win in 19 years with his Adams 13 Risky Business.

With the Melbourne to Osaka double handed race looming the following March, Simon Kellett with co skipper Chris Pullin raced the 12.4-meter Swanson Bobby Dazzler to victory in the Westcoater. The year of first Double Handed race entrant.

1991 was when former ORCV Commodore Robin Hewitt’s Lexcen Yoko celebrated its 10th Westcoaster race by notching up its first handicap win in the very competitive Performance Handicap division. Yoko defeated Grant Wharington’s line honours winner Wild Thing by 4 hours and 30 minutes on corrected time.

Robin Hewitt, Trevor Huggard and the crew were so excited they organized a 'Big Day Out’ party for over 250 colleagues on a nearby landing barge to celebrate the occasion

This was also the year for the first running of the new IMS division, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club based Adams 12 Friction skippered by Chris Laker won the converted Heemskerk Trophy

For the 1992 race, Lactos Cheese was the sponsor. All eyes were on Robert Hopcraft’s Adams 52 Animal Farm which after losing its mast soon after the start the year before, was back larger than life and out to get rid of its “Second to Hobart Bridesmaid” tag. Soon after clearing the heads, Animal Farm shot away to lead the fleet down the West Coat of Tasmania. By the Derwent River, after a record-breaking run from South West Cape, Animal Farm held a 15-mile lead over Flying Colours and looked odds on for its maiden win. But in the last few miles, it got caught in the windless “Taroona Hole’ and sat helplessly as Flying Colours caught up, and passed them, to not only win Line Honours but set a new race record time of 2 days 15 mins 7 seconds, 15 minutes faster than Wild Thing’s race record!

In Performance Handicap Division, Richard Edmund’s Adam 13 Risky Business and in IMS Division John Saul’s 12 m sloop Quit for Life brought home two winners in one year for Tasmania.

Sadly, 1992 was to be the last year that Geoff Woods was able to sail Ile Ola to Hobart. Two years later when Geoff died in Geelong, the Westcoaster, and Yachting Victoria lost a true legend.

1993 was quite the year. If winning yacht races is all about evoking high levels of emotion, 1993 Melbourne to Hobart IMS winner certainly produced a heart wrenching story. Well known Royal Brighton Yacht Club skipper Allan Collins, recovering from a throat cancer operation, was unable to compete. However, his crew, led by co-owner Rex Billing raced the Cavalier 37 By Order of the Secretary flat out down the West Coast dedicating their fine win to their absent and ailing skipper back in Melbourne.

In line honours battle, Royal Brighton’s David Gotze sailing his Davidson Murray 52 Prime Example celebrated his recent marriage, and his first Ocean Race, by being the first to Hobart and greeting his new wife in 2 days 22 hours and 8 mins. This was the first ocean race for David, and it was where his passion for ocean racing and his love of the Melbourne to Hobart race was born.

The Navy's Scarborough of Cerberus skippered by Ken Moody scorched home to win the Performance Handicap by 62 minutes. Sadly, three weeks later at the Western Port Marina in Hastings, the yachting world was shocked when Ken Moody tragically lost his life after he was accidentally electrocuted whilst building the ‘boat of his dreams’. Later in June, Melbourne to Hobart sailors bid farewell to another great character and loyal supporter of ORCV when Alan Collins lost his battle with cancer.

1994 race saw Line Honours and Double Handed trophy won in spectacular fashion by Simon Kellett's Inglis 47 entry Fast Forward. Simon was lucky to reach Hobart after he escaped injury when trapped upside down in a bosuns chair at the top of Fast Forward's mast in a gale off South West Cape!

In Performance Handicap, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs brought home the previous year's winning Navy entry Scarborough of Cerberus to take first prize.

1995 was Tasmania’s turn to dominate results again with Hobart’s John Saul traded up to the Inglis 47 Tasmap, which more than 200 spectator boats at the start off Portsea saw win the converted Port Phillip Pilots Trophy race to the Heads, before it went on to score an all the way convincing Line Honours win in 2 days 20 hours and 27 mins.

1996 was the 25th anniversary of the race and was contested by a race record size fleet of 74 yachts. A great achievement for a race that they said would never be held! It was a fast race with a new race record set by Peter Hansen’s PL Lease Management of 1 day 23 hours 15 mins and 38 seconds. Taking more than 50 minutes off the previous race record. Standing up to receive the Heemskerk Trophy (holding his new born baby) was skipper and owner of Brighton Star, David Gotze.

“The Westcoaster was my first ocean race and will always be my favorite ocean race...... it's a very special race, I love the race,” (David Gotze, August 2022)

A special race for Brighton Star skipper David Gotze winning the 25th Melbourne to Hobart race in 1990. Photo Richard Bennett

Melbourne to Hobart Past Results

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS. For the past 4 years the overall winner has competed under both IRC and AMS rating systems and has been the leader in both of the Measurement Handicap Divisions. Results since 1999 are given below.

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS.  For a number of years, the overall winner also 1st on AMS and IRC. Results since 1999 are given below.

Overall Winners 

Between 1972 and 1999 the Heemskirk trophy was awarded to the winner under the premier handicapping system of the day  but the handicapping systems varied and the system applied in any given year was not necessarily in common use nor system with the most entries.                                                     

The Overall winners in this period are listed below.

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

• In australian-race-boat
• Posted on December 10, 2022 December 10, 2022
• Leave a Comment on Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is an annual race that starts in Sydney, Australia, and finishes in Hobart, Tasmania. It is held each year on the first Sunday of the month of December.

THE SYDNEY TO HOBART  Yacht Race in December is an icon of Australia’s summer sport, ranking in popularity with other national events such as the Davis Cup tennis and the  Melbourne Cup horse race .

No yearly yachting event in the world attracts such huge media coverage as this race. The race starts on  Boxing Day  in Sydney, NSW and finishes in Hobart, Tasmania. The course covers a distance of 628 nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to the east coast of Australia, Bass Strait, the Tasmanian east coast, Storm Bay, Derwent River and finally Battery Point in Hobart, Tasmania.

The race has been hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since its beginning in 1945 and is run in cooperation with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

When is the winner not the winner? The public and media often focus a lot of attention on which yacht wins Line Honours. It’s easy to understand why, because that’s the first yacht to cross the finishing line. However, that is often not the Overall Winner. The exact rules to select the Overall Winner have changed over the years. Basically, it’s a handicap race where a yacht’s finish time is adjusted based on several factors set down in the prevailing rules. In other words, the fastest boat is often not the Overall Winner.

Note: the International Offshore Rules (ORC) were superseded by the International Measurement System (IMS). This resulted in two Overall Winners in 1993, 1992 and 1991.

• In 2012 the super-maxi Wild Oats XI claimed a 6th victory breaking its own previous record with a finish of 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
• 2005 saw Wild Oats XI win the treble – Line Honours, Overall Winner and a new Race Record. This is the first time this has been done since 1945 when Rani did it in the first Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Wild Oats XI cut over an hour off the record for the fastest race which was previously held by the 1999 winner Nokia.
• The smallest fleet had only 9 starters in 1945. The largest fleet to race was 371 starters in 1994 for the race’s 50th Anniversary.
• The line winner with the smallest yacht was in 1952 by the 35 ft Nocture, NSW.
• The line winner with the largest yacht was in 2002 by the 89 ft Alfa Romeo Shockwave, AUS/NZ.
• The worst disaster in race history was in 1998 when 6 sailors died and 5 boats sank. Only 43 yachts finished the race out of 115 who started due to an exceptionally strong storm.
• The most successful yacht designer is Bruce Farr, NZ with 15 overall winners.

International Overall Winners

• Hong Kong/China – Beau Geste – 1997
• Hong Kong – Ceil III – 1973
• Ireland – Atara – 1991
• Germany – Raptor – 1994
• NZ – New Zealand – 1980
• NZ – Pathfinder – 1971
• NZ – Rainbow II – 1969, 1967
• USA – Kialoa II – 1977
• USA – American Eagle – 1972

More Information

• Australian Yachting and Sailing links
• Official Site of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
• Cruising Yacht Club Of Australia  – Race organizer
• Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

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Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Winners 1945 to 1959

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Winners 1980 to 1989

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Winners 1970 to 1979

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SAILING TEAM

CO-NAVIGATOR

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'87,'89,'90,'92,'94,'95,'96,'00,'01,'02,'03,'04,'05,'07,'08,'09,'10,'11,'12,'13, 11,'12,'13,11,'12,'1.

• Sailor.com.au
• May 20, 2019

WAS 1998 THE MOST DIFFICULT SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE.

Updated: Dec 24, 2019

While the 1998 Sydney to Hobart was the most deadliest Sydney to Hobart yacht race it wasn't the most difficult race, it ranks as the 4th most difficult.

In 1998, at the starters’ gun, 114 yachts took off through Sydney Harbour and out into the Tasman Sea, to make the 628-nautical mile passage to the south-east of Tasmania.

In what became the deadliest incident in Australian sailing history six lives had been lost. Three men, Mike Bannister, Jim Lawler and John Dean, drowned when their life raft failed, after the sinking of their yacht Winston Churchill. Glyn Charles, a former British Olympian, was swept over board from Sword of Orion and perished. Two died on Business Post Naiad, the skipper Bruce Guy, heart attack, and crew member Phil Skeggs who succumbed to injuries suffered when the boat rolled.

More than 50 sailors had to be rescued in extreme conditions.

Bass Strait can be the worst stretch of water ever crossed or it can be a pleasant walk in the park. It's unpredictable, notorious for shipwrecks and a relatively shallow stretch of water that separates southeastern Australia and Tasmania.

While there are lots of discussion around the 1998 S2H race it wasn't the toughest on record. Lets look at the conditions and brutality of four Sydney to Hobart races 1984, 1993, 1998 and 2004 and see how the numbers stack-up.

1984 - THE SECOND MOST DIFFICULT

The 1984 race had 151 starters and only 46 finished the race, that's 30.5% finished the race. The conditions were terrible with the average elapsed time for the fleet being 18.6% worse than normal conditions. According to sailor.com.au the Difficulty Index was 2.339 for 1984, ranked second most difficult.

1993 - THE MOST DIFFICULT RACE EVER

The 1993 race had 104 starters and 38 finished the race, only 36.5% finished the race. The conditions were brutal with the average elapsed time for the fleet being 30.3% worse than normal conditions. According to sailor.com.au the Difficulty Index was 2.421 for 1993, ranked the most difficult race in the history of the Sydney to Hobart.

According to Iain Smith, a crew member on Wild Oats XI, "the 1993 race was generally regarded as the toughest on record. The only difference [to 1998] was that there was fortunately no loss of life that year. There were massive retirements and damage to yachts."

In 1993 an unusually strong low pressure depression of 986 hpa developed stretching down the Queensland coast across the Tasman sea to the south island of New Zealand back across to Tasmania with the centre in Bass Strait.

The winning yacht "Ninety seven" recorded 78 knots (144 km/h) of wind either side of the eye of the low off Gabo Island on the night of the 27th. Dec. [ wikipedia ]

1998 - THE MOST DEADLIEST, AND THE FOURTH MOST DIFFICULT

The 1998 race had 114 starters and 44 finished the race, only 38.6% finished this infamous race. The conditions were brutal with the average elapsed time for the fleet being 6.2% worse than normal conditions, but the weather system was brutal in its impact. According to sailor.com.au the Difficulty Index was 1.928 for 1998, this race ranked the fourth most difficult. It ranks as the deadliest incident in Australian sailing history.

The 2004 race had 116 starters and 59 finished the race, only 50.9% finished the race. The conditions were brutal with the average elapsed time for the fleet being 21.9% worse than normal conditions. According to sailor.com.au the Difficulty Index was 1.955 for 2004, ranked third most difficult.

The chart below highlights the seven most difficult races in the sydney to hobart they were in order: (1) 1993 (2) 1984 (3) 2004 (4) 1998 (5) 1988 (6) 1997 (8) 2015

For more on the Sailor.com.au Ocean Rating see " HOW THE WORLD'S FIRST SAILOR OCEAN RATING SYSTEM WORKS "

#SOR #RATING #S2H

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• Digital Edition

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race winner decided by 51 seconds

• Helen Fretter
• December 27, 2023

The 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours battle is settled in the final gybe after one of the closest finishes in the race’s history, with Law Connect winning ahead of long-time leader Andoo Comanche.

Law Connect has won the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours, after the closest finish in over 40 years, which ended in a gybe-for-gybe battle up the Derwent River against long-time leader Andoo Comanche .

Andoo Comanche held the advantage going into the Derwent with a two-mile lead, John Winning Jr’s crew crowded onto the bow in the light early morning winds to try and lift Comanche’s 8m beamy transom, which gives the yacht the nickname the ‘aircraft carrier’.  

Law Connect followed up the Derwent River with a knot or two more breeze, and were able to close the gap some two miles from the finish line, but the waters outside Hobart were littered with glassy patches, and each boat repeatedly battled to maintain hull speed through windless holes.

After 628 miles of racing, the lead changed repeatedly in the final half hour, with Law Connect taking the advantage on the final gybe for the line to roll over the top of Andoo Comanche and cross the line ahead.  

Law Connect overtakes Andoo Comanche metres from the finish line of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

It was an exceptional display of light winds tactical match racing, with Law Connect helmsman Tony Mutter and tactician Chris Nicholson directing Christian Beck’s team to victory, after being 2nd on three previous years . Law Connect crossed the Castray Esplanade finish line in Hobart at 08.03.58am local time after 1 day 19 hours 03 minutes 58 seconds of racing.

Beck gave a self-deprecating speech after, praising the crew for their efforts on a boat he admitted was not as fast or well-funded as their rivals. “I honestly can’t believe it. I rated it about a 25% chance we’d win, so to win was just amazing.

“An hour ago we were about 3 miles behind Comanche, so to win – I still can’t believe it.”

Law Connect (SYD 1000)a Juan K 100ft Custom design, on its way to winning the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

Mixed 2023 Sydney Hobart Race

The 2023 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart has so far seen truly mixed conditions. The Boxing Day start delivered its customary spectacle, as the three 100ft maxis led the fleet out of a packed Sydney Habour. Law Connect gave an impromptu demonstration of how to gybe a giant overlapping headsail after breaking a furling line that left them unable to tack around a turning mark, while Scallywag took penalty turns once in clear water after a port-starboard incident with Comanche shortly after the start.

Start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race. Photo: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Over the first two days of racing the fleet had to contend with electrical storms, squalls and severe sea states, as well as periods of light winds, and there have been 11 retirements so far. They included another line honours hopeful, the 100ft Scallywag , which had to retire after snapping the bowsprit in the first day of racing.

Other boats retired due to rigging damage, mainsail damage, and severe seasickness caused by the unpleasant sea state.  

Most dramatically the double-handed entry Rum Rebellion retired after being knocked down and having a Man Overboard, who was safely recovered.  

Co-skipper Shane Connelly reported that they were approximately 20 miles offshore on the first evening of the race, sailing under full main and spinnaker in 6-10 knots of wind, when the wind suddenly increased to over 16 knots with a ‘ferocious’ looking storm cloud approaching from behind.  

The duo prepared to drop the spinnaker, but a micro-burst of wind hit the yacht, causing a knockdown. Connelly, who had gone forwards during the spinnaker drop, was thrown overboard but tethered, and as the boat righted was lifted back onboard. He reported after: “The safety drills and systems all worked and we could sort ourselves out”

The stormy conditions caused issues across the fleet on the first night. Aboard the Santa Cruz 72 Antipodes crew member Geoff Cropley reported this morning: “We had lightning and thunder for hours. Then there was a major wind shift which auto gybed the boat.

“The spinnaker got wrapped in the drop, along with spinnaker staysail. All the team was up and trying to untwist and get that down. It took us about 40 minutes. We were heading north-east and sailing backwards for a period of time.

“We’re now hunkered down with a reef in the main. There’s little bit of blue sky. It’s quite nice out here.”

Azzuro, an S&S 34 owned by Jack Kliner, with crew including Jessica Watson, during the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Photo: Rolex/Andrea Francolini

Meanwhile the battle for IRC overall continues. IRC 1 contender Alive , a Reichel Pugh 66 with a talent-packed crew including Gavin Brady, Stu Bannatyne and legendary Australian navigator Adrienne Cahalan, a veteran of 30 Hobart races. Close behind them on the IRC rankings is Hobart grandee, Sean Langman on the Reichel Pugh 69 Moneypenny led IRC 0, while the  S&S 34 Azzurro raced by Jessica Watson  is fastest of the small boats on the current IRC rankings.  

Celestial crowned overall winner of Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Celestial skipper and owner sam haynes said he wasn't expecting to claim the title, labelling the feat a "lifetime achievement"..

Celestial skipper Sam Haynes says he is pleasantly surprised to win the title, adding that his goal had been to be "competitive" and deliver the best result possible. Source: Getty / Brett Hemmings

• Celestial has been named the overall winner in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
• Skipper Sam Haynes says the win is particularly special after the yacht's experience last year.
• Rough seas have forced more vessels to retire.

Redemption after heartache in 2021

Rough seas force more vessels to retire

Race record in sight for leaders in Sydney to Hobart yacht race

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race: LawConnect wins Sydney to Hobart line honours after two-way river battle

Topic: Sailing

In a finish for the ages, LawConnect has sensationally overtaken Andoo Comanche in the final moments to snatch line honours in the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Andoo Comanche held the lead a lot more comfortably when rounding the Tasman Peninsula and entering the River Derwent for the final sprint, but LawConnect started to rapidly gain on them.

LawConnect and Andoo Comanche racing to the finish line. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The two crews could wave to each other, if they wanted to. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The speedier LawConnect closed several nautical miles between them along the river until they were neck and neck to a nail-biting finish. 

LawConnect's finish time in the end was 1 day, 19 hours, 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Andoo Comanche's was just 51 seconds behind.

If you're new to the Sydney to Hobart race, we've got a shortcut guide at the bottom of the story. Tap the link below to get the gist of the race: Explained: Common Sydney to Hobart yacht race questions 

The LawConnect crew celebrate their win. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

LawConnect owner Christian Beck described their dramatic win as a dream come true.

"I can't believe that result. Honestly, it's a dream come true," he said.

"I never thought it was possible, actually."

Despite trailing by a significant margin as they passed the Iron Pot on the final approach, LawConnect had the advantage of being able to watch Andoo Comanche to see where the slow spots were.

LawConnect entered with a protest flag flying, after being on standby for about 30 minutes during the race due to concerns Andoo Comanche was in distress, but a formal protest was not lodged.

There was also some interference from a spectator boat in the final moments, with a catamaran passing close to Andoo Comanche and the crew being seen yelling and gesturing.

Tasmania Police said this afternoon action would be taken against a 57-year-old man for "allegedly breaching" marine and safety regulations.

"The man was skippering a private vessel when it reportedly encroached into the exclusion zone set by Marine and Safety Tasmania," it said in a statement. 

The offence carries a fine of up to $3,900.

Sailing master Tony Mutter said spectator boats were something the competitors had to deal with.

"It's pretty fair that everyone had troubles with the spectator boats. That's part of it when it's so busy," he said.

Andoo Comanche skipper John Winning Jr said they only had themselves to blame for the last-minute loss.

LawConnect is racing to the Sydney to Hobart finish line. ( ABC News: Megan Whitfield )

"We should have been miles ahead of them with our boat," he said.

"The conditions suited us, I think they just outsailed us."

First local boat home

URM Group has claimed third place line honours, crossing the finish line at 3:07pm to record a race time of 2 days, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 19 seconds.

The first Tasmanian yacht to finish, Alive, crossed the line almost 12 minutes later.

Alive is currently in first place to win overall handicap honours.

Four yachts have now docked at Kings Pier, with Moneypenny and Wild Thing 100 expected to be the next to arrive.

Live Moment

Join us for the finish of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Possible problem?

In the final moments, a catamaran appeared to cut in front of Andoo Comanche as the boat turned into the finish.

Eyewitness accounts say crew on Comanche were yelling at the catamaran to move as they tried to turn.

Could this make for an official race protest? We'll have to see.

After leading all the way into the River Derwent, Andoo Comanche won't make it back-to-back Line Honours wins. LawConnect snatched it away from them at the last moment!

How incredible. These boats set off together three days ago and it came down to mere seconds to the finish.

Andoo Comanche was in the lead when it approached the Tasman Peninsula this morning. ( Supplied: Andrea Francolini )

It has been a testing 78th edition of the Sydney to Hobart, with a man overboard, stormy seas, damaged yachts and rapid wind changes.

Eleven boats have retired, including race favourite SHK Scallywag, which broke its bow sprit on the first day.

The skipper of two-handed Rum Rebellion, Shane Connelly, was sent overboard at 6pm on Boxing Day after encountering rapid wind changes off the coast between Cronulla and Wollongong.

Two-handed Currawong also retired, after facing various issues in rough conditions off New South Wales.

Owner Kathy Veel said they were disappointed but believed they made the right decision.

"Last night was quite difficult and there was a lot more of that ahead of us in a long race," she said.

They were the last boat to cross the finishing line at last year's event, making a well-received arrival in Hobart at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Your questions answered

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions.

Who won Sydney to Hobart 2023?

When we talk about the Sydney to Hobart race, there are two major "winners":

• Line honours: This is the order in which boats cross the finish line.
• Overall winners: The order of winners once race times have been calculated to take into account the differences between boats (handicaps). This is because the boats aren't exactly the same — adjustments have to be made for things like the weight and length of the boat.

Line honours will always go to the biggest, fastest yachts (supermaxis) but is likely one of the smaller vessels will be crowned the overall winner (which is seen as the more prestigious of the two prizes).

Here's the line honours as of Thursday morning:

• Andoo Comanche

The difference between the two was just 51 seconds. 

But the overall winner won't be decided for days. 

Until then, we can only wait.

However, before the race, there were a few main contenders for the overall title – here they are listed in alphabetical order:

• SHK Scallywag

Who owns LawConnect?

Christen Beck. 

Mr Beck is the founder of a legal software company, which he created off the back of building a system for his father's legal firm in the 90s. 

In 2017, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2018, he was ranked 99th on the Financial Review's Rich List . 

Who owns Andoo Comanche?

John 'Herman' Winning Jnr.

He's the chief executive of Winning Appliances, a company started by his great grandfather in 1906. 

Mr Winning Jnr took over the role from his father in 2011. 

How far is the Sydney to Hobart distance?

It's a 628-nautical-mile course – that's  1,163 kilometres .

Starting at Sydney Harbour, the course runs down the south-east coast of Australia, across the Bass Strait before turning into the Derwent River to finish in Hobart. 

It usually takes about 48 hours for the first boat to cross the finish line.

What is a nautical mile?

A nautical mile is the equivalent to 1.852 kilometres .

It's an internationally used standardised term used for maritime navigation, based on the Earth's latitude and longitude coordinates.

A nautical mile is the equivalent of one minute of latitude. 

Because of this, a nautical mile is slightly longer than land mile. 

How many boats are in the Sydney to Hobart race?

There's 103 this year. 

What is the prize for Sydney to Hobart?

There's no prize money – just trophies. Here's the two main ones:

• JH Illingworth Challenge Cup: This is for the line honours winner – which is the first boat to cross the finish line.
• Tattersalls Cup: This goes to the overall winner.

What's the Sydney to Hobart record?

The line honours record is 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds .

It was set in 2017 by LDV Comanche.

If you've got even more questions, go read out Sydney to Hobart explainer  or tap the link below to jump back to the top of the story.

Take me back to the top to read the recap

• Newspapers & Gazettes
• The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) View title info
• Fri 31 Dec 1982 Prev issue Next issue Browse issues
• Page 16 Prev page Next page Browse pages
• YACHTING SYDNEY-TO-HOBART Fifth attempt lucky for Scallywag Prev article Next article Browse articles

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• Abstract HOBART: After years of failure and a dismal record in the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, Scallywag was declared the provisional winner of the 1982 ocean
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